Are State and Local Income and Property TAXES Akin to Charitable Contributions…An Analysis of an Inequitable Limitation

Abstract

In December 2017, President Trump signed H.R. 1 into law the largest tax reform legislation since 1986. As a result of the sweeping changes, the State and Local Tax Deduction has been reduced to $10,000….from an UNLIMITED deduction prior to the new legislation. Unfortunately, there are certain states, where 30-40% of their taxpayers claim an average SALT deduction of $21,000, primarily New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California (Byerly,2018.) Does the 2017 federal tax overhaul accentuate an inequity in the Internal Revenue Code?